Dahlia plant named ‘HDW79’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘HDW79’, characterized by its compact, mounding and dense plant habit; dark-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescence form; large inflorescences with white-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HDW79’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HDW79’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact container Dahlia plants that have dark-colored leaves, large inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in Lisse, The Netherlands in 2007 of a proprietary seedling selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number VD5-272, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands in 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings since the spring of 2009 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HDW79’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HDW79’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and dense plant habit.     -   2. Dark-colored leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Daisy-type inflorescence form.     -   5. Large inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more compact and denser than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have reddish brown-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida ‘HS Princess’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,567. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the new Dahlia differed from plants of ‘HS Princess’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were shorter and more rounded than         plants of ‘HS Princess’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia were darker in color than         leaves of plants of ‘HS Princess’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HS Princess’ differed slightly         in ray floret color.

Plants of the new Dahlia can also be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida ‘Roxy’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the new Dahlia differed from plants of ‘Roxy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were stronger and sturdier than         plants of ‘Roxy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Roxy’ differed in ray floret         color as plants of ‘Roxy’ had purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant. The photograph show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HDW79’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Lisse, The Netherlands and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were pinched one time about three weeks after planting. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘HDW79’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Dahlia hybrida identified as code number VD5-272, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at soil             temperatures of 15° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at soil             temperatures of 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at soil temperatures of 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days             at soil temperatures of 15° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.         -   Tubers.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 14 cm. Texture:             Corky. Color: Brownish. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;             inverted triangular plant form; freely basal branching with             about five lateral branches per plant; inflorescences held             above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; vigorous, bushy             and dense growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 27 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm to 25 cm. Diameter:             About 9 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 9 cm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A;             towards the apex, tinted with close to 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves may be single or             compound with three or five leaflets.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Slightly serrated; sinuses divergent.         -   Length.—Single leaves: About 3 cm. Compound leaves with             three leaflets: About 11 cm. Compound leaves with five             leaflets: About 11.2 cm.         -   Width.—Single leaves: About 3 cm. Compound leaves with three             leaflets: About 8 cm. Compound leaves with five leaflets:             About 9 cm.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 187B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 200A; venation,             close to 187B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A to darker than 146A; venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: Single leaves: About 2 mm. Compound leaves             with three leaflets: About 7 mm. Compound leaves with five             leaflets: About 9 mm. Diameter, all leaves and leaflets:             About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A tinted with             close to 187C. Color, lower surface: Close to 148A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Rotate daisy-type             inflorescences with ray and disc florets developing             acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above             and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles;             inflorescences face mostly upright; freely flowering habit             with about 80 to 90 inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 65 days after             planting; flower continuously during the summer and autumn             in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             inflorescences maintain good substance for about 18 days on             the plant and for about five days as a cut flower;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 178B; towards the             apex, close to 160A; towards the base, close to 137A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.2 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.1 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.1 cm. Receptacle             height: About 8 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.6 cm.             Receptacle color: Close to 137A.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Aspect:             Initially upright to roughly perpendicular to the peduncle.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About             eight arranged in a single whorl. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 155A; longitudinal ribs in the center,             close to 72A; at the base, close to 7A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 157C; longitudinal ribs, close to 72A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; longitudinal             ribs in the center, tinted with close to 72A; towards the             base, close to 11A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             155B; longitudinal ribs, close to 72C; at the base, close to             11B.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate. Length: About             8 mm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 60. Color, immature: Apex: Close to             178A. Mid-section: Close to 21B. Base: Close to 151A. Color,             mature: Apex: Close to 17A. Mid-section: Close to 21B. Base:             Close to 17A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 7 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: Close to 200A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 200B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: Terminal peduncle: About 7 cm. Fourth             peduncle: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 187A to darker than 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About             4 mm. Filament color: Close to 3B. Anther shape: Lanceolate.             Anther length: About 3.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 15A.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 21A.             Gynoecium, present on ray and disc florets: Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:             Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 12C. Style length: About             5 mm. Style color: Close to 150B. Ovary color: Close to             150C. Fruits: Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 187B. Seeds:             Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Color: Close to             187B. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘HDW79’ as illustrated and described. 